You will approach our home by way of a large pebble-paved driveway and two 30-year-old deep pink crape myrtle trees that flank both sides. The flax, dusty miller, blue festuca grass, gazania, and alstroemeria plantings in front of the house reflect our love of the southwest and a variety of color. The rest of the yard is slowly being converted toward this style as well.

Long-time Chico contractor Monty Betty built this used brick ranch house nearly 30 years ago. Our attraction to the home was in large part due to the ambience of the back yard. The stately Chinese tallow and Camphor trees that bracket the yard provide a sense of balance and serenity. Having been done in the mid 1980s, the landscaping is mature and compliments the large rectangular swimming pool.

Since the yard has so much shade during the summer months, the plantings are mostly camellias, azaleas, Indian hawthorne, Aucuba japonica, herbaceous perennial peony, hibiscus, dwarf red Japanese maple and viburnum (spring bouquet) shrubs.

This has been enhanced for color with lots of potted flowers, succulents and plants on the covered back patio. These plants vary each year but contain fortnight lily, chrysanthemum, star jasmine, sweet alyssum, marguerite, potato vine, geraniums, petunias, gerbera daisies, chives, and red sedum.

The east side of the house hosts a number of costal redwood trees that are over 80 feet high and give much-needed shade to a fountain and small patio for morning coffee.

On the west side, a wall of Carolina cherry trees was planted to disguise a chain link fence and the adjacent property.

This home is surrounded by an acre of landscaped yard with an additional area containing a former almond orchard. This land now houses a few of the original trees — almonds, a black walnut, a dwarf Meyer lemon and a contorted weeping willow.

This section also has three 5-by-25-foot raised bed planters filled with flowers and vegetables as well as the first residential ground-mounted solar system inside Chico's city limits.

We are currently in the process of converting more of the landscaping to include the drought-tolerant plants native to the southwest area so it is likely that the description will change some by the garden tour date.

Please feel free to ask us any questions you may have regarding any aspect of this property. We look forward to sharing our yard with you during the tour.

St. John garden tour details

St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church's 31st annual Garden Tour is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 3 in Chico. It will feature five unique gardens. This year's selection includes a drought-tolerant garden and a water-conservative garden. Some gardens may not be suitable for the mobility-impaired.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 on tour day. The price includes five gardens, luncheon and a plant boutique. Garden locations and a map are printed on the tickets.